Saturday 18/11/2023 - Bathampton AA - Open - Silvers Only - Withy Pool

Aaron Britnell was running a Silvers open on Withy Pool on Saturday and with nothing on Sunday booked in. Started with a full house booked in, but faded away to 14 of us - shame.

Travelled with Kev Winstone today - thanks matey. So much better travelling with someone as it can be lonely.

Nowhere's fishing well for silvers at the moment so expected low weights - still no wind to get the fish moving.

Drew peg 49 behind the island in the gap peg for me today. Jason was on next peg 50 so good company - But company we both could do without - leaves in both our pegs stagnating due to lack of wind. 

Waggler and 4x14 Winter Titan. However, waggler produce one indication which was a bit disappointing as it could be fished in a area leave free. Fished two lines both at 10 metres with GB and Pinkie picking off the odd hand size skimmers, 1-2 oz Ronnie's and tiny Perch from both lines, the leaves dictating when to switch. As expected it was hard. At least only the one Carp to contend with. 

Whilst packing up matey Layton Palmer came round and offered to push my kit back to the van. However, I was able to do it until, unknowingly, Kev had the call of nature and had moved his van. On my return unloaded my kit next to the wrong van - twat. But a double bubble van.

I weighed 6 lb 2 oz which got me the section by triple default - who don't like a triple😁.

Aaron (pictured with the runner up's) won the match from peg 46 with  a decent weight of 12 lb 3 oz. Aaron caught at 13 metres initially with caster taking 6 lb, later switched to maggot for the remainder of his catch. Well done matey well deserved.

Back to the Compton which was rammed so off to the Mughal Palace for a drink or two and a takeaway - love draft Cobra.

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 16/11/2023 - Ray's Rip Off - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake

Well done to Ray Bazeley for raising an enormous sum for the British Legion again this year - takes a lot of effort and time organising a 100 peg river match.

Peg 22 again for me - when are we going to get some steps for pegs 2 to 11?

Great company today with Rip Off on 23 and Geoff on 21. Some colour in the lake but with the shortage of wind it was going to be hard for most.

Had a phone call from various family member's - the St Brendan's bus had broken down (again) so delayed setting up in case I was summon to the rescue. All OK in the end.

Set up just the short Ronnie rig and a 4 x16 Winter Titan in 8 foot of water at 10 metres both to target silvers.

Fished pinkie and GB on both lines. Caught small fish short for about 1 hour, then went out long but was loosing small fish, reduced the size of elastic but still enough power to get the Common Carp out. Had one Ronnie and one decent Skimmer, followed by a near 10 lb Common and one about 6 lb both on 0.1 bottom!. Sat on this line for far too long in search of more skimmers. Spent last 15 minutes back short and had a run of Ronnie's and Rudd. Should have spent longer on it. 

The two Common's weighed 15 lb 10 oz plus 3 lb 9 oz of silvers which I didn't think would come anywhere as I could see Haydn Withers catching better fish on peg 25. So was amazed to find it enough for second silvers.

The match was on by Leyton Palmer (pictured with the silvers winner) with 92 lb 13 oz from peg 9. Leyton caught 50 % of his carp initially on the straight lead over to the island with double corn. The other 50 % came from fishing meat on the pole. Well done matey.

As I thought the silvers was won by Haydn with 6 lb 15 oz from peg 25. He caught on the pole at 10 metres fishing maggot hook bait.

Geoff and me rounded off a good day out by another visit to the Indian. The Manager has named us Chasni and Ramo after the meals we usually order 😄.

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 09/11/2023 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's and Short Walks - Withy Pool

Members can't get access to the fishery until 08:00, so with the draw at 08:30 we had the usual queue.

Seventeen fishing today so easier to peg three sections. The pool has gone clear due to the recent rain. No signs of feeding fish.

Peg 54 for me today. Thought I had an empty peg next door which would be desirable today, however, Mick Gale arrived next door and it was he that had the empty peg.

The North bank pegs - low 60's to the low 50's are all South facing and would have serious issues with the Sun today. Brought my old Sun glasses which helped with the Sun but could only see about 5 metres with them.

Set up allsorts except the feeder which on hindsight should have been the only thing I could use sensibly - stubbornness.

Started short on caster hoping for some decent perch - just indications so switch to LR's on the hook and caught about 12 small Perch which more or less cleaned out the line. When out 3 metres with GB and Pinkie and had a couple of small Ronnie's and a few more tiny Perch. The Sun combining with the wind caused silver ripple making visibility near impossible. Out to 5 metres with a very light rig had a couple more small Perch and a Ronnie. It was almost impossible to fish. Most of the bank was on the tip, where I should have been. Chucked the waggler out to 20 metres but it was a strain seeing it. I decided to pack up early to get on with the weigh in just as the heavens opened up.

I weighed 1 lb 12 oz for last but one.

The match was won by Andy Greenham from peg 42 (pictured with his catch) with 7 lb 6 oz. Andy had a few of decent Perch on caster and some small skimmers on Pinkie and GB. Well dome matey.

As anticipated it fished hard and if it wasn't for some decent Perch showing in most nets the weights would have been a lot lower. BAA netted out the small silvers last year which are just the fish to feed under todays conditions giving bites throughout the match.

Back to the Compton with a few of the usual suspects missing. However, we did get our spot by the  wood fire.

Pick up my prescription glasses Monday so won't bother fishing until then.

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 05/11/2023 - Alcove AC - Poppy Match at Whitehouse Farm - George's and Margret's Lakes

Because I'm still learning about the venue was looking forward again to the unknown. Anticipated the silvers to be in the main frame. Really didn't mine where I drew - mainly out of lack of experience

Into the draw bag and out comes peg 19 on George's (pictured with the light starting to go, Roach now topping everywhere and the island trees looking beautiful in autumn colours). Couple of steps down to the platform, something that's needed at Windmill Fishery. Told is was the dam end so deep which scuppered a idea I wanted to try.

Waggler to fish 20 metres where it was 10 foot. A short rig and a two barrel rig. The water here gradually slopes off from 4 to 10 foot which should be good for the Skimmers.

Just Maggot and GB - Magic, Lake and fish meal for a binder.

The issue with the peg today was the Sun. Another week before picking up the prescription Sun glasses. I was awful. This meant initially fishing down Sun then move up Sun once it moved. Initially no way could I fish the waggler or fish too long. So started short and had a couple of 1 lb Skimmers and a 1 lb Gold fish, but mostly Ronnie's keeping them coming by topping up with GB laced with DR's. Had been loose feeding up Sun ready for the switch and on the move managed to keep some Ronnie's coming, pulling out of two decent Perch - as you do. Sun abated along with the odd light shower so switched to the long line again with GB and DR's for a couple more skimmers and Ronnie's. Did have a small Ronnie taken by a predator bringing it in - apparently no Pike in the lake so might be Perch. With all initial lines dead went out on the waggler over loose fed LR's for a couple of small Chub and a few decent Ronnie's, but over done the feeding and should have tried shallowing up - next time.

Weighed 13 lb 2 oz for the lake win. Very enjoyable except for the bloody Sun glare causing a headache.

Margret's Lake and the match was won by Kev Swanston (pictured with George's lake winner) with 19 lb 15 oz of Skimmers from peg 16. Kev caught on both the method and cage feeder with mainly pellet hook bait. Well done Kev excellent weight on the day.

What a nice quiet venue, can see why it's so popular for pleasure anglers.

Weigh Sheets:

 

Sunday 29/10/2023 - PSV Club @ Plantation - Main Lake

Glenn and me thought we would try Plantation Main with both silvers and Carp counting. We normally match fish it for silvers and hook loads of Carp - well I do.

The clocks changed overnight which will confuse my body clock for a few days. Woke to what looked like a full moon some beautiful views of it on the drive down. Topper Haskins would say that the fish won't feed after such a moon. He could be right.

Another bright and wind free day which is believed to be the reason the silvers aren't feeding properly especially the Roach at most venues. Wind also needed to get rid of the green film on this lake at the mo.  

I was hoping for a peg that has a platform or at least half of one. Peg 26 was drawn for me. Not quite a full platform but OK. For company on peg 27 Ron Hardiman and James D-0-G-G 777 on 24!

Only brought caster, maggot and GB to fish for the silvers. Three rigs - margin with caster for the big Perch, short Ronnie rig and a 4x12 to fish at 10 metres.

The upshot was for the first time ever at this venue couldn't get a bite on caster!! Resulted to maggot and caught very very small Ronnie's and Skimmers up to 4 oz by rotating the two lines. No Perch from the margin either. Even tried the waggler for not a bite!

Weighed 8 lb 9 oz of silver for nowhere. The only other thing worth a try was worm had I had any, but doubt if this would have made any difference as James next door fished it throughout the match.

Bela Bakos (pictured) won the match from peg 1 with 86 lb 8 oz. Bela caught mainly down his end margin at 13 metres just off the bank in 3 foot of water using a mixture of feed with meat hook bait - lifting and dropping. Well done matey. Found the above cutting when Bela found two river Tench!!

The silvers win went to Matt with 23 lb 12 oz from peg 2. Matt caught at 14.5 metres using worm over worm and caster. Well done matey.

As Glenn scraped his section it had to be a stop at the Prince of Waterloo. Food looks good.

Weigh Sheet:

Tuesday 24/10/2023 - Acorn Cost Cutter Open - Paddocks

I don't seem to get the time on Tuesdays to get down to Acorn with Gary and Glenn as much as I would like So today would be only the third time this year. The main attraction for me is the amount of quality silvers. However, with the autumn on us plus plenty of rain around didn't expect the Tench to make much of a showing.

Nice steady ride down with Glenn and it looked like it would stay dry for us. Gary was sorting his Colmic pole but still coming to terms how parallel butt sections work 😏

Drew peg 22 same as last time which I was more than pleased with. Found myself drawn next to Eddie on peg 23. Started to set up when Eddie realised he messed up the pegging and moved me to 21 otherwise a gap of 3 pegs. Very unusual for Eddie as he runs a good match, but can be a bit  grumpy if you don't have the right pools money.

Tench rig for the bridge, short 4x12 rig for 3 foot shelf and 4 x14 for full depth down the middle. Thought about the waggler but that was as far as it got.

Fed the Bridge with a smidgen of chopped worm and caster, starting short on single LR over maggot and had  three decent Skimmers and two decent Perch and an unwelcome 9 lb Carp. Time to try the bridge hoping for some Tench. Unusually foul hooked a Tench (slime on the line) and pulled out another. Landed two before it completely died but could still see activity over the feed which kept me trying the line in vain, whatever it was wouldn't pick up the hook bait. Had a few more skimmers short with the long line producing nothing. Added a 2 lb Perch and a few decent Ronnie's. Hour to go started a new line up to the bridge with the short rig with light feeding of maggot and had another Perch and some more Ronnie's. Put a bit of GB in with the hope for a Skimmer or two which brought a sudden unwanted change of small Carp and F1's adding about 25 lb - unfortunately no more silvers.

Silvers weighed 20 lb 10 oz all quality fish - lovely day's fishing plus second silvers pick up, total weight 53 lb 6 oz. Mid match nearly got off my ass to set up the waggler which I'm sure may have produced some Ronnie's, but can't be sure, here's to next time.

The match was won once again by Gareth Boycott (pictured with some of his catch) with 211 lb 8 oz from island peg 4. Gareth initially caught on pellet long over adding the lion's share later down his edge using maggot over kindered GB. Well done matey got it sorted.

The silvers was won by Joanne (pictured with the winner) with 26 lb 1 oz from peg 9. Joanne had a good few small Tench and Skimmers fishing down the middle with maggot and GB. Well done Jo.

Glenn finished 3rd from peg 5 with 149 lb 6 oz so a double bubble van and worthy of a pint on the way home in the Prince of Waterloo with Bob and Gary. End to another memorial day out with great company.

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 19/10/2023 - Ray's Rip Off - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake

With red weather forecasts across the country we got off lightly with a few light showers which became "the day of rainbows" - stunning, combined with Reed Warblers having a squabble and the thieving Robins, some days it doesn't matter whether you catch or not.

Some time ago at the Viaduct winter league Matt Taynton had won both the silvers and match and got paid for both (for some reason Bela and

me expected a drink - alas not!!). Matt is always dressed smart even at matches, as he was this day. However, he never wore a tie. He said it was because he didn't own one. So at the next match I gave him my NFA tie. He wears it quite often and is pictured proudly showing it off prior to a shoot dinner.

Peg 21 for me, which usually throws up some Skimmers. Thought is was going to be hard after the nights heavy rain. Tried the wag and mag for a tiny Perch and a foul hooked lost Carp. Again plagued with indications from tiny Ronnie's. The waggler didn't feel right so abandoned. Spent the rest of the match on the short Ronnie rig catching the odd Ronnie on single LR but was still missing loads of bites from the small fish - even with pinkie on the hook! Very few Perch about. It was hard. From what I could see very few silvers was coming out, so stuck with it until the last hour when the disrupting Carp arrived. Andy Greenham paid a visit just as I was landing a 11 lb Common on a 20 - 808 to 0.1 GLine. Swapped to 0.14 only to get broken on the next Carp!! Back on 0.1 and landed a 6 lb Carp before the all out.

Silvers weighed 5 lb 9 oz - all Ronnie's and the two accidental Carp going 17 lb, for 22 lb 10 oz for an unexpected section win!

John Smith (pictured with the silver winner) won the match from peg 23 fishing banded pellet up in the water over loose fed same at 13 metres for 78 lb 9 oz. Well done Matey - still a jinx though.

The silvers went to Paul Barnfield with 10 lb 15 oz from peg 25. Paul caught at his usual 13 metres with worm over chopped worm and micro. Close on the silver with three 10 lb weights. Well done matey 

Back for a curry at the Mughal Palace with the usual suspect - excellent.

Weigh Sheets: